Chapter 45 I Can't Help but Hope

I Can’t Help but Hope

In my third year, I was lucky enough to finish all the required courses for the Teacher Practice Program, so I continued my study-oriented life just like in my second year.

The liquor store was still doing well and the delivery service was busy, but the president and his wife encouraged me by saying, “As a student, you should focus on your studies,” so I was very grateful and sorry. So on weekdays, when I had some free time, I would go to the store and help with tasks like inventory or carrying in goods, even if I couldn’t make deliveries.

Also, since last summer, Taichi’s mother, Auntie, and sister, Eriko-san, had been coming to the store from time to time, and even though I only greeted them when we ran into each other, I was glad that they started treating me normally.

Apparently, Auntie didn’t know that I worked here, and it was just a coincidence, but when she came and saw me for the first time, I was surprised, but she was also quite surprised and said, “Chika-chan, you work at this store!? I’m glad you’re doing well.” I was about to cry again even though I was working, but somehow I felt very relieved to see her chatting happily with the president’s wife.

She has been coming here a lot since then, and it seems that she is worried about me.

I haven’t told the president’s wife about Taichi, so she probably only knows that I’m “Sakamoto-san’s son’s classmate.” She doesn’t tell me every time Auntie or Eriko-san comes, but she calls out to me when she comes into the store while I’m there, so I greet them every time.

However, while I was sending food as usual, Auntie told me, “Taichi is also working part-time, so you should stop soon,” but I felt it was strange to stop just because she said so, so I asked her, “Please let me continue for a while,” and she let me continue.

Then, in my third year, on the weekend before Golden Week in April, when I was about to go on a delivery, the president’s wife asked me, “On your way back, could you stop by Sakamoto-san’s house and pick up the empty bottles?”

She said, “The other day, their son came home for the first time in two years and ordered a case of beer. So she just called and asked me to pick up the empty bottles, so please.”

Taichi was home.

Is he still here?

It’s the middle of Golden Week, so maybe he’s already gone.

I’m so curious.

I had tried not to think about Taichi for a while, but hearing about him like this makes my heart flutter.

But there’s nothing I can do about it, so I should concentrate on my work for now.

As planned, I went to the customers, and on my way back, I stopped at Taichi’s house and rang the doorbell.

I introduced myself and said, “This is from the XX liquor store; I’ve come to pick up the empty bottles.” The door opened, and Eriko-san answered right away.

“Oh? Chika-chan came?”

“Yes, I was out on a delivery today.”

“I see. Thank you for your hard work.”

She said that and told me that they were at the entrance, so I could go in and pick up the case.

Even though it was the front door, it was the first time I had been in Taichi’s house in a long time.

The smell of the house was nostalgic, and I couldn’t help but remember the past.

When I looked at the shoes lined up at the entrance, there were no men’s shoes that Taichi would wear.

When Eriko-san noticed me looking at the shoes, she said, “Taichi came back last week, but he left after two days, so he’s not here today.”

“I see.”

“Chika-chan, do you want to see Taichi?”

“Yes, I do… If I could, I would like to apologize properly.”

“I see. He’ll be back in May for about a month for his teaching practice. It depends on Taichi, but should I ask him?”

“Really!?”

“Yes, but don’t get your hopes up. It’s been two years; he’s had a lot going on too.”

“Yes, I understand. I’m sorry to bother you.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. We get all kinds of food from you every month, so consider it a thank you. Oh, sorry for making you hold that case! It must be heavy, right?”

“It’s okay. It’s just empty bottles, so it’s not that heavy.”

“Wow… You’re really strong, like a gorilla.”

“Eh?”

“Fufufu. Nothing, nothing!”

“Excuse me.”

“Okay, thanks for all your hard work.”

Taichi’s coming home next month.

For a whole month.

Department of Education in a national university, teaching practice is in the third year.

It’s different from my private university.

But maybe I can see him.

Maybe I can finally apologize, something I’ve given up on.

I don’t think about getting back together or making up anymore.

I just want to apologize properly.

Even if I’m not forgiven, even if I’m hated, I want to apologize as a closure to our five-year relationship.

Even though Eriko-san told me, “Don’t get your hopes up,” I can’t help but hope.

I know it might be annoying for Taichi, but when I thought I might finally be able to apologize, something I’d given up on, I couldn’t help but hope.

From then on, while attending classes on campus and working part-time during Golden Week, all I could think about was apologizing.

What words should I use to apologize?

What should I wear?

Where should we meet?

I thought about these things even though it wasn’t certain that I would meet him, and before I knew it, the middle of May had arrived, so I delivered the food I sent every month to Taichi’s house.